HC Deb 01 July 1980 vol 987 cc1284-5
5 Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 3 June, column 1229, he will study the opting-out kidney donor system, and the relevant difficult, sensitive and emotive questions; whether he expects the number of patients on renal dialysis to increase at a rate of 15 per cent. per annum; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Vaughan

I have considered the case for an opting-out system, but in my view this is ruled out by the weight of public opinion against it, which was recorded in the survey published last year. I am hopeful that the supply of kidneys will be improved as a result of the new kidney card scheme and that we shall maintain the rate of increase in patients on renal replacement therapy, which has averaged 16 per cent. in recent years.

Mr. Dalyell

Will Ministers and their officials cast their most critical and beady eye on precisely how these public opinion surveys on transplants were done? Could the Point be considered, in relation to the whole contracting-out scheme, that casual questions from strangers on highly emotive issues are not really a proper way of determining policy in this area?

Dr. Vaughan

I shall certainly give the hon. Member an undertaking to look at this again. We are as concerned as he is that the maximum number of renal cases should receive treatment. We are concerned that there are 1,700 people waiting who could have kidneys if they were available.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Would not the best way to discover people's views be to get a sample survey done through GPs—who are thinking about medicine and the problems of those who need to be cured —rather than tying the matter into a questionnaire which might be about totally unrelated subjects?

Dr. Vaughan

I shall give support to my hon. Friend's proposal.

Mr. Alfred Morris

Further to my hon. Friend's important question, will the Minister state what is now the average waiting period for a kidney transplant and what action he is taking to improve staffing and resources to reduce the average waiting period?

Dr. Vaughan

I know that the waiting period has been significantly reduced. I shall have to find out the exact period and I shall write to the right hon. Gentleman.